RSM September 2009 Newsletter

Spectrum Licensing

Presentations from Future Wireless Technologies Seminar are now online
The Ministry of Economic Development convened a seminar on Future Wireless Technologies on 24 August 2009 in Wellington.

The intention of this event was to share knowledge amongst participants about emerging developments and to commence identifying areas on which to focus future technical and regulatory work.

Presentations were contributed by the Ministry, industry and research institutions, with topics including Cognitive Radio, Software Defined Radio and Future Mobile and Broadcast Technologies being covered. A panel discussion was also held. Attendance exceeded expectations with the event being oversubscribed and over 100 participants attending.

The Ministry has requested feedback on the event and suggestions on next steps from participants.

Digital Futures discussion paper
The Ministries of Economic Development and Culture and Heritage are currently seeking feedback on a range of issues related to the switch-over to digital-only television broadcasting.

The Digital Futures: Planning for Digital Television and New Uses discussion paper outlines issues relating to achieving a fully digital television broadcasting environment and the re-allocation of the spectrum resulting from the upcoming “digital switch-over” (DSO) process.

Submissions close on Wednesday, 30 September 2009. They should be made in writing, preferably by email, to radiospectrum@med.govt.nz (with “Digital Futures discussion document” in the subject line), or by mailing:

Digital Futures Discussion Document
Radio Spectrum Policy and Planning
Ministry of Economic Development
P O Box 1473
Wellington 6140

Radio Licensing

SMART Tip #1 – How to allow additional users in your organisation to manage licences on your behalf
If your organisation holds radio or spectrum licences in the Register of Radio Frequencies (SMART), you will have a client record and an associated logon with a user name and password. This SMART Tip explains how you can add an additional user to your client record to enable them to manage licences on your behalf.

This is particularly useful if you want someone else in your organisation to logon in their own right (for example, someone in your accounting team or an external radio engineer). These additional users will have their own user name and password to manage your client and licence details – there is no need to divulge your own logon details (not a recommended practice!).

You will also have the ability to manage the logons of these additional users and delete them if access is no longer required.

For further information freephone 0508 RSM INFO (0508 776 463).

Related link

Link to Register of Radio Frequencies (SMART)

Product Compliance

Prohibited radio jammer equipment is subject to a $1250 fine
Devices intended to "jam", that is harmfully interfere with, radiocommunications are increasingly becoming available.

Recognising the importance of effective, interference-free spectrum for New Zealand's communications infrastructure, particularly where radio-navigation or other safety services are concerned, Radio Spectrum Management has issued a Prohibited Radio Jammer Equipment Notice for radio jammer equipment.

The manufacture or sale of such interfering equipment is not acceptable in New Zealand and an infringement fine of $1,250 may be imposed on any company found to be in breach of the notice.

Persistence and direction finding pays off
A recent interference problem at a land mobile site in the Blenheim area involved Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) staff chasing a rogue signal for several hours.

The signal was only able to be heard by RSM staff at two widely separated hill top sites using a high gain antenna and an amplifier.

Two direction finding bearings were enough to give a map location for the faulty mast head TV amplifier. It was tracked down on the western side of Blenheim before it got dark.

RSM has located several spurious mast head TV amplifiers in the last year and reminds industry to use low gain amplifiers and to install TV systems with quality splitters and terminations.

Direction-finding can even be used to identify interfering stations on the other side of the world. In a separate case this month, a licensee using a frequency around 7MHz complained of interference on their service. With the co-operation of the ACMA direction finding service in Australia, the interfering signal was identified as a time signal station which had recently come on to the frequency in Ottawa, Canada. Negotiations are being held between administrations as to how to overcome the interference issue.

Are you selling wireless products?
This is a reminder that if you are selling electronic products, with a radio transmitter function, you must ensure that the transmitter complies with prescribed standards and is authorised by a New Zealand radio licence.

Radio transmitters are present in all products using WiFi or Bluetooth connections, and in wireless devices such as cordless phones, baby monitors, security systems and walky-talkies.

This requirement applies to all sellers of electronic products with radio transmitter functions, regardless of whether you are a commercial seller or a private seller, and including sales on Trade Me. If you are using Trade Me then the website lists radio transmitters and transceivers as restricted items.

For further information go to the Radio Spectrum Management website for advice about the product compliance and licensing requirements, or contact Radio Spectrum Management on 0508 RSM INFO.